The 2025 winners of the Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards have been announced. Two of the categories are specifically focused on the best Australian writing for youth. Here are the winners in those categories, both of which are available in the US:
CHILDREN’S LIT
Leo and Ralph by Peter Carnavas
YOUNG ADULT
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Books + Publishing has the entire list of winners in all categories.
Cat Nap by Brian Lies (9780062671288)
This picture book is pure visual joy. A cat naps in the warm afternoon sun. Awoken by a mouse, the kitten follows the mouse into a poster about Egyptian Antiquities at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The first place they land is a sculpture with hieroglyphics. They run through the sculpture, taking on the art style as they pass by. They leap to the next, this time an illuminated manuscript. Then the next where they become clay sculptures. They pass through paintings, past wooden masks, into stained glass, and Japanese ink. Finally, Kitten realizes he is lost and can’t see the mouse anywhere. A kind monk from a gold leaf painting suggests he listen for home. Kitten can hear the food being poured into his bowl!
The final pages of this picture book show the Caldecott Honor-winning artist working on the art for this book. Instead of doing the various styles digitally, Lies created the art, including all of the pottery, stained glass, gold leaf, paintings and sculpture. It’s such a rewarding read where the physicality of the art he created truly shows on the page. These are illustrations that will stop you and make you feel.
A romp through art, this picture book is one to inspire more exploration. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Greenwillow Books.
A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead (9781250324733)
Amos McGee loves the snow, but all he has gotten so far is rain and wind. Then finally there is news that the first snow of the year is on its way. Happily, he has just finished his knitting and offers all of his zoo friends scarves, hats, socks or clothing to keep them warm in the snow. Everyone waits for the snow that day, but it never comes. However, overnight the snow arrives starting with just one flake. By the morning, the snow is deep enough for snow angels, snow art and shoveling. It’s just right for one more thing too: sledding! The day ends with cocoa for everyone with extra marshmallows.
This third Amos McGee book is just as charming as the first two. Amos and his animal friends share the glee of small children when the first snow comes and invite readers to join in the joy of playing in the snow with them. I appreciate how Stead creates a world where the quiet of snow is also part of the beauty of it for children. The illustrations are lovely with their fine lines and details. They make an elephant and rhino deep in the snow immensely believable.
Another delightful book in a great series. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Roaring Brook Press.
Snow Kid by Jessie Sima (9781665966085)
A group of children make a snow kid on a winter day, giving them a carrot nose, stick arms, and a top hat. They name the snow kid, Twig. When Twig is left along in the snowy woods, a cold breeze takes their hat which makes Twig cry out. Twig had never spoken before and now wonders what else they could do! Twig is soon walking and talking, journeying down the hill, getting bigger and losing their carrot nose. But what makes them Twig? Are these changes making them into someone else? When Twig discovers a clearing full of unique snow people, they realize that there are many different ways to be and that they can decide who to be themselves.
Sima writes this picture book from Twig’s point of view and beautifully captures the existential questions that Twig has. Using gender-neutral pronouns and inclusive language, the picture book shows that embracing change is part of life and that transformation can be a way of finding one’s true self. The illustrations are a lovely mix of snowy delights and winter fun with wistful blues that give space for questions and exploration.
Young children exploring their gender expression will find a kindred spirit in Twig. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster.
Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illustrated by Dalton Webb (9780063434912)
Wolf wants to win the sled race, so Wally says she hopes he does. Otto the auk wants to win too, so Wally says she hopes they both win! Soon they are at the starting line, but Otto and Wolf crash almost immediately. Wally sails on past, suddenly winning. But the two fallen friends are sucked up into a huge snowball that comes after Wally. Perhaps she was right about not having to win all along! Told in speech bubbles, this picture book reads like a large-format graphic novel. The three friends are a great mix of characters just right for a silly sledding sequence.
Share this one at winter story times. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Greenwillow Books.
BOOK AWARDS
Meet the winners of the 2025 B.C. and Yukon Book Prizes – Vancouver Sun
Winners of SWCC Book Awards for science writing announced – Quill & Quire
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
The 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years – Slate
How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M – Texas Public Radio
A ‘Miss Nelson Is Missing!’ Movie Is Coming! Everything to Know About the Film Adaptation – Parade
Mo Willems on How He’s Forced Millions of Adults to Get Silly – Slate
My Kid Loves Dav Pilkey Books. What Should They Read Next? – New York Times
World Kid Lit Month: Illustrations Without Borders – SCBWI Blog
LIBRARIES
Libraries Are at the Heart of the Reading Ecosystem – EdTrust
Viral Instagram videos on Hong Kong’s libraries are ‘like a time capsule’ – South China Morning Post
Why Teens Love to Hang Out at the Library – KQED
YA LIT
LGBTQ+ Teens Need Books That Teach Them About Sex, Not Shame Them For It – People
Twilight at 20: how Stephenie Meyer’s vampire saga changed young adult fiction forever – The Conversation
I Like Cheese! By Salina Yoon (9781547612420)
The first in a new graphic novel easy reader series, this book explores the friendship of Kat and Mouse. The two meet each day for lunch together. Kat is always inventing new sandwiches and explaining them to Mouse with great excitement. In contrast, Mouse prefers to have the same lunch every day. Cheese! Once the two friends realize how different they are, they decide to not have lunch together any longer. Mouse is saddened by the decision, thinking he is far too dull for exciting Kat. When Kat finds that she misses Mouse, it is Mouse who has the great idea of a compromise.
Wonderfully inviting and readable, this graphic novel easy reader uses speech bubbles, comic frames and bright colors to create something fresh and new. The interaction of the characters is remarkably impactful given the limited vocabulary and word count.
Readers will look forward to the next Kat & Mouse book. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
Reviewed from ARC provided by Bloomsbury.
The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel by Michael Rex (9781665962100)
A penguin starts his long tunnel, the tunneler tunnels in the tunnel. Along the way, he pops up into various other locations. In the garden, the gardener in gardening. On the farm, the farmer is farming. The tunneler visits a mine, a building, camp, and even a baseball field as he tunnels around. In each spot, he hands out an invitation to something. It’s not revealed until the end what the tunneler has been doing with his tunneling tunnels.
Filled with wordplay, this beginning reader is a lot of fun both to share aloud or for new readers to read on their own. The illustrations are crisp and clever with touches that keep the book and the repeating words from getting stale.
The reader should be reading this reader. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss & Simon Spotlight.
All the Stars in the Sky by Art Coulson, illustrated by Winona Nelson (9781665931373)
Clay was determined to be selected as the last start of the week for his classroom that year. He ran home to ask the advice of the smartest person he knew, his grandmother. When Clay explained that the star would make him the most important person at school, Elisi frowned and said that his family and community were more important than any individual. Clay was disappointed and confused. That night, Elisi used the star-filled sky to show Clay what she had meant. One star is only part of an entire constellation. Clay thought about what his grandmother had said and when he was made Star of the Week, he knew exactly what to do.
When reading this picture book, I was first struck by the indigenous beadwork created by the illustrator from her Ojibwe heritage. It is a beautiful part of all of the watercolor and pencil illustrations, making the art entirely unique, adding colorful flow to the pages, forming frost crystals and making stars and suns. Created by an author of Cherokee descent, the story is told in a frank and engaging way, focusing on the difference between the importance of individual vs. community.
A unique and beautiful book to get readers thinking. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Family Feast! By Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (9780593898291)
Big Ma and Pops start bright and early preparing for the family to visit. They peel fruit for pie and get the fish ready to fry. As people arrive, the kitchen gets busy, filled with various dishes either prepared right there or brought in by cousins, uncles and aunts. There are the noises of the kitchen, the pride of those providing dishes they are known for, and the longing of the children to start eating. The family gathers at the table, offers a prayer, and then start to eat. Afterwards, there is dessert, a few naps and once night comes everyone heads home.
This merry and loving picture book has been created by two masters of the form. It has a refrain that captures the entire story: “Tastes like home when family meet; a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” The writing is done in rhyming stanzas that add to the feeling of joy and the buoyant nature of the get-together. The illustrations are fabulous, capturing a family gathering from various perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the image looking down at the table before they begin to eat and also when we see the gathering from the perspective of the children in the room.
Joy in family and gathering together shines in this picture book. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Crown Books for Young Readers.
The shortlists for the 2025-2026 First Nation Communities READ have been announced. The awards are given for the best Indigenous literature from Canada and voted on by First Nation librarians from Ontario. The awards will be given during First Nation Public Library Week (October 6-10).
Here are the shortlists:
CHILDREN’S
The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George
Bannock in a Hammock by Masiana Kelly
Boozhoo!/Hello! by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere
Dad, I Miss You by Nadia Sammurtok
Hummingbird/Aamo-binashee by Jennifer Leason, translated by Norman Chartrand
YOUNG ADULT/ADULT CATEGORY
The Baby Train by Stella Shepard
Little Moons by Jen Storm
Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber
Medicine Wheel for the Planet by Dr. Jennifer Grenz
Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and Nation by the Honourable Murray Sinclair
Little Rebels by Yuyi Morales (9780823447541)
Welcome to the world of little rebels. You can be one too! Little rebels are looking for stories. They make poetry. They are dreamers and while rebellious they make sure to take care of others along the way. They know to turn to their ancestors when things get too big for them to change and also to change smaller things as they can. They learn and grow, making their own magic rather than waiting for it to happen.
Based on the author’s childhood experience at a freshwater lagoon and then her return in adulthood to find it dried up, this picture book explores nature with three BIPOC child characters who serve as additional voices in the story via their speech bubbles. Accompanied by animal friends, the three travel a landscape of frogs, plants and then desolation. Morales is calling for action, for caring for one another, for kindness and awareness in this book.
Strong and haunting. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Reviewed from copy provided by Neal Porter Books.
Together, United by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier (9781338752052)
This is the final book in the All Because You Matter trilogy. It is a picture book that speaks to the fact that all children were born of stars and brought to just this place via gravity and the Big Bang. The book is about using your voice and finding your gifts to share with others. It strongly points out that if we work together the impact of our efforts is far beyond what we could do alone. This is a book for our times and for children of today. As always, Collier’s art is tremendous, particularly when combined with the poetic skill of an author like Charles. Combined with the other books in the series, it is a call to action, a demand that we use our voices and an empowering book to share with children who may feel scared and powerless. Appropriate for ages 5-10.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Edelweiss and Scholastic.
Waking Brain Cells 